Motion Picture Story Magazine (Aug 1911-Jan 1912)

MUSINGS OF A PHOTOPLAY PHILOSOPHER 147 If you were asked to name the most pious, sanctimonious, religious colony in America, you would perhaps say Ocean Grove. Not that all people who go there are so pious, but that the rules governing that city are the most rigid — not to say Puritanic — of all ; so much so that one cannot smoke there on Sunday, nor a tradesman deliver milk. And yet, this immense colony has established in its midst — think of it! — a wicked Motion Picture Theater! My philosophy may be commonplace, good reader, but what I do not give you in depth, I give you in breadth; and what I do not give you in breadth, I give you — not in length, but in brief. To say it in few words — that is the thing to try for. Philosophy is something that lightens and brightens up. It is wisdom, and the love of wisdom. It is the science of living. Frederick the Great once said that if he wished to punish a province, he would have it governed by philosophers ; but Carlyle says that ' ' The philosopher is he to whom the highest has descended, and the lowest has mounted up ; who is the equal and kindly brother of all. ' 9 In olden times the wealthy sent their sons to the philosophers to be taught, and it was thought an honor to entertain philosophers at their homes. Even the warlike Alexander the Great knelt at the feet of Aristotle. Later on in the centuries it became fashionable to substitute jesters, that is, fools, for philosophers; and ever since philosophers have not thrived. He who is a thinker is a philosopher. As Voltaire says, ''The discovery of what is true and the practice of that which is good are the two most important objects of philosophy. ' ' A Photoplay Philosopher is one who observes what is going on in the Motion Picture world, who analyzes the emotions and passions on which the Picture Plays are based, and who seeks to discover their evils and virtues, striving to cure the one and to encourage the other. We all found it hard enough to learn how to read, but most of us have found it harder to learn what to read. A little history, a little biography, a little philosophy, a little poetry — all are good, but always add a little fiction to your literary bill of fare. A good short story is refreshing, and, if it is illustrated, it is fascinating. What magazine in all the world affords such a wealth of good pictures and stories as this one? C Teaching children history by the usual method is like planting an acorn in a flower pot. In the child-mind, words forms pictures ; but in the case of history no words can adequately express to the young mind the march of events, and no child can see things in correct perspective. If history is to be taught to children at all, it must be profusely illustrated; and even then it is doubtful if it will ever be of value to them if it is not done in story form by means of Motion Pictures. Many useful things can be taught by the correspondence schools, but there are some things that cannot be adequately taught by any schools where the student must rely on what he reads. For example, how to handle machinery; how to repair an automobile; how to use carpenters' tools; how to sail a boat, etc. These and hundreds of other branches must either be learnt by practical experience or by means of Motion Pictures. C The philosophers and theologians have spent nine-tenths of their lives in trying to teach the world about the soul and the hereafter. Very good ; but, if not too indiscreet, might I inquire if it would not now be well to devote the other tenth in teaching of the body and of the "here"?